Najee Goode hosted a New Year’s Eve party for his fellow linebackers this week and at some point the former Eagle brought out his Super Bowl LII championship ring for display.
“Just imagine,” he told his young Colts teammates. “You could be playing for one of these in 30 days.”
That was Darius Leonard’s welcome-to-the-playoffs moment.
The rookie linebacker will be one of several first-year players tasked with heavy contributions in his postseason debut Saturday against the Texans (11-5). And he’s leaning on his veteran teammates for guidance.
It’s a formula Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard had in mind when he focused on character in building his locker room over the past two offseasons.